Paving the way to coastal adaptation pathways: An interdisciplinary approach based on territorial archetypes. Issue 110 (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rocle, Nicolas; Rey-Valette, Hélène; Bertrand, François; Becu, Nicolas; Long, Nathalie; Bazart, Cécile; Vye, Didier; Meur-Ferec, Catherine; Beck, Elise; Amalric, Marion; Lautrédou-Audouy, Nicole
• Is Part Of: Environmental science & policy. Issue 110(2020)
• Page Start: 34
• Page End: 45
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: Sea-level rise -- Adaptation pathways -- Anticipation -- Climate change -- Uncertainty -- Interdisciplinarity; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; Sciences de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Environmental policy; Environmental sciences; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.70561
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2020.05.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-9011

Abstract

Highlights: This article explores adaptation pathways to climate change in coastal areas. Six territorial archetypes are defined to be representative of the French coastal territories. The pathways identify different and common resources and levers for each archetype. A rapid rise in sea level reduces adaptation capacities for structural changes. An ambitious and early mitigation policy results in more robust adaptation pathways. Abstract: The attractiveness and urbanisation of coastal zones increase their vulnerability to climate change and sea-level rise, in particular to flooding and marine erosion. In the face of the projected increase in losses and damages, the anticipation and measures needed for adaptation involve physical, socioeconomic and political dimensions at different governance levels and timescales. A large literature addresses these various issues, generally in a targeted way. Drawing on adaptive policy pathways approaches and on research results of the past decade in mainland France, this article proposes an interdisciplinary characterisation of long-term adaptation pathways in coastal areas. Among the different variables and processes of change that characterise coastal zones and their future, particular emphasis is placed on social and institutional dynamics. This work contributes to the debate about adaptive governance in a highly uncertain context as well as to recent work to explore pathways and tipping points in support of climate adaptation policies.